Features

LOS ANGELES, United States — The Golden Globes drew more than 10 million TV viewers to post a small audience increase from the previous year, producers said Monday, after a well-received show in which "Emilia Perez" and "The Brutalist" scored big wins.

The ratings boost for Sunday's gala consolidates a slight upward trend for award shows in recent years, as Hollywood tries to move on from the impact of strikes and the pandemic, and the Globes themselves bounce back from their own controversy and scandal.

The averaged figure of 10.1 million viewers marks a 7-per cent increase from 2024's gala -- and a significant recovery from barely 6 million a year earlier.

The Globes, a Hollywood film and television awards show that once ranked second only to the Oscars, has been in crisis -- and even nearly ceased to exist -- in recent years.

In 2022, the Globes gala was not even aired, when former broadcaster NBC pulled the plug due to outrage over the lack of diversity and ethical lapses of the group of journalists that previously organised the awards.

The Globes relaunched last year under new private ownership, with the telecast moved to CBS and restored to its Sunday night spot, and A-list stars returned to the gala's glitzy Beverly Hills ballroom.

This edition, surreal narco-musical "Emilia Perez" and epic immigrant drama "The Brutalist" were the big Globes winners, as prizes were shared widely across an international crop of movies at the year's first major showbiz awards gala.

French director Jacques Audiard's Mexico-set "Emilia Perez" took four prizes, including best comedy or musical film, while "The Brutalist" was named best drama and also picked up best actor for Adrien Brody, who plays a Hungarian Holocaust survivor.

There were major wins for Demi Moore with "The Substance," Sebastian Stan in "A Different Man" and -- in the night's biggest upset -- Brazil's Fernanda Torres for "I'm Still Here".

Comedian Nikki Glaser hosted the ceremony, kicking off the gala with an irreverent, well-received monologue.

BEVERLY HILLS, United States — Surreal narco-musical film "Emilia Perez" and actress Demi Moore were among the early winners at the Golden Globes on Sunday, where a crowded field of movies vied for glory at the year's first major showbiz awards gala.

"Emilia Perez", French director Jacques Audiard's genre-defying film about a Mexican drug lord who transitions to life as a woman, held the most nominations going into the show with 10 -- the most ever for a comedy or musical.

It picked up three early wins: for Zoe Saldana as best supporting actress -- nudging out her co-star Selena Gomez; best original song; and best non-English language film.

"I don't have sisters, and that might be the reason why I made this film about sisterhood," said Audiard, via a translator.

"If there were more sisters in the world, maybe it would be a better place."

Big wins at the Globes, a sometimes eccentric bellwether for the Academy Awards, can help movies earn new audiences and build vital momentum toward the Oscars in early March.

But "Emilia Perez" faced competition from a plethora of rivals, in a year with no clear favorites and no lack of strong contenders.

Other early Globes were distributed widely to multiple films.

Demi Moore won best actress in a comedy for body horror "The Substance," which takes a satirical and often grotesque look at the pressures placed on women by society as they age.

Accepting her prize, Moore reflected on how decades ago, she had been told by a Hollywood producer that she was "a popcorn actress."

"I bought in, and I believed that, and that corroded me over time," said the now 62-year-old "Ghost" star.

But "I had this magical, bold, courageous, out-of-the-box, absolutely bonkers script come across my desk called 'The Substance,' and the universe told me that 'you're not done.'"

Sebastian Stan won the best comedy film actor award for "A Different Man," in which he portrays a man who undergoes experimental treatment for a disfiguring facial condition, but comes to rue the consequences.

"Our ignorance and discomfort around disability and disfigurement has to end now," said Stan.

"We have to normalise it and continue to expose ourselves to it."

Kieran Culkin won best supporting actor for Jesse Eisenberg's awkward road trip comedy "A Real Pain," about mismatched American cousins retracing their European roots.

'The Brutalist' vs 'Conclave'

The Golden Globes offer separate awards for dramas and comedies/musicals, widening the field of movie stars in contention -- and thus highlighting more performances for Academy voters, who will soon cast ballots for the Oscar nominations.

Others in the running for best comedy or musical are smash Broadway adaptation "Wicked", Cannes darling "Anora", and tennis love-triangle film "Challengers", which won best score.

In the Globes' drama section, "The Brutalist", starring Oscar winner Adrien Brody as a Hungarian Jewish architect who survives the Holocaust and emigrates to the United States, had seven nominations. It won best director for Brady Corbet.

Its rival "Conclave", a fictionalised account of high-stakes Vatican horse-trading, depicting how the death of a pope sends the church's various factions into battle for its future, took best screenplay.

Others vying for the best drama prize include Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown", sci-fi epic "Dune: Part Two", 1960s reform school tale "Nickel Boys" and 1972 Munich Olympics thriller "September 5".

Latvian movie "Flow", a surreal dialogue-free odyssey about a group of animals forced to work together as they drift in a boat through a flooded world, won best animated film.

Ozempic

The Globes are in year two of a revamp, following a Los Angeles Times expose in 2021 that showed that the awards' voting body -- the Hollywood Foreign Press Association -- had no Black members.

Now under new ownership, and with the HFPA disbanded, organisers are hoping to capitalise on a ratings bump registered last January, and perhaps even burnish the gala's status as a predictor of Oscars success.

Hollywood's best and brightest, from Angelina Jolie and Nicole Kidman to Timothee Chalamet and Daniel Craig, hit the red carpet under sunny skies, before comedian Nikki Glaser kicked off the ceremony with an irreverent monologue.

"Welcome to the 82nd Golden Globes, Ozempic's biggest night," she quipped, referring to the weight-loss drug that has proven wildly popular in famously looks-conscious Hollywood.

Hollywood A-listers were joined by a few big names from the worlds of music and theater.

Jolie, portraying opera diva Maria Callas in "Maria", goes head-to-head with Kidman for erotic thriller "Babygirl" in the lead actress drama section.

The show also honors the best in television, with big wins for historical epic "Shogun".

By Dr Silvia Zayadin
Veterinarian

Last month, I shared tips on what to consider before bringing home a feathery friend.

Today, I’m continuing my bird series, this time focusing on how to keep our feathered companions healthy and happy.

We adore our pet birds; they are beautiful intelligent creatures that are adaptive and curious.

As all living creatures, they are susceptible to various diseases that affect their health and welfare.

Birds are great at hiding illness as part of their survival instinct, so spotting signs of sickness can be tricky.

That’s why it’s important for bird owners to watch for even small changes in their pet’s behaviour, as they can signal a health problem.

Those diseases can range from respiratory infections to skin and feather problems to certain nutritional deficiencies.

Understanding some of the most common problems makes it easier to detect the disease

Understanding some of the most common problems makes it easier to detect the disease in its early stages, which can prompt medical care, making the pet bird’s health a priority.

Parrot Fever (Psittacosis)

This is a disease that can affect many bird species, including parrots, cockatiels and budgies.

It is a bacterial infection caused by Chlamydia psittaci, which is zoonotic — meaning that it can be transmitted to humans as well.

Symptoms in birds include loss of appetite, which can lead to weight loss; lethargy; breathing difficulty; droppings can become watery or green in some cases.

Treatment

Diagnosis is based on a physical examination findings and performing diagnostics such as x-rays, swab samples and blood tests.

Treatment is directed towards the elimination of bacteria using appropriate antibiotics and supportive therapy to ease and control symptoms.

Prevention of the disease aims towards keeping a hygienic environment through regular cage cleaning, providing adequate ventilation and most importantly, quarantining any new birds before introducing them to other birds.

Nutritional deficiencies

There are different nutritional deficiencies that can affect our pet birds, usually caused by a poor diet that doesn’t provide all the nutritional elements a pet bird needs.

Such deficiencies can cause weak bones leading to fractures, respiratory problems, or skin and feather abnormalities.

Common symptoms are dull or missing feathers, an overgrown beak, brittle bones and lethargy.

Offering a balanced diet and certain nutritional supplements can prevent those problems and ensure normal and healthy growth.

Practicing responsible ownership is important in keeping your pet bird healthy and happy

Parasitic infections

This health problem is caused by the presence of external parasites, such as mites and lice, or internal parasites such as intestinal worms or protozoa.

They can cause discomfort to the bird or lead to an abnormal appearance.

Symptoms can include excessive scratching or feather plucking, leaving the skin red and irritated.

Internal parasites can cause diarrhea and weight loss.

Treatment

Antiparasitic medications and topical treatments are usually used. 

Regular cleaning of the cage and perches and routinely giving parasite preventive medications, can lower the infection risk markedly.

Avian Polyomavirus (APV)

This is highly contagious viral disease, mainly affecting young birds like budgies and lovebirds. It is caused by the polyoma virus.

Symptoms include the loss of appetite, lethargy, regurgitation, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, and in more severe cases, sudden death.

Treatment

Diagnosis is best done by performing a PCR test on blood or tissue to detect the presence of the virus.

There is no specific treatment as it is a viral disease, but supportive therapy is indicated to control the symptoms and prevent more serious secondary bacterial infections.

Prevention is achieved by vaccinating the birds and maintaining a clean and sanitary environment for the pet bird.

A quarantine of new birds is a must before introducing them to the other pet birds at home.

Avian Aspergillosis

This fungal infection is caused by the Aspergillus species that is found in humid and dirty environments — it affects the respiratory system.

Symptoms are various and include loss of appetite, weight loss, difficulty breathing and abnormal movements during breathing.

Treatment

Diagnosis is made based on clinical symptoms and diagnostic tests. 

Treatment is done by giving antifungal medications and supportive therapy in more severe cases where breathing difficulties are present.

Maintaining a clean, dry living environment is crucial to preventing this infection.

You can also provide appropriate ventilation and quarantine any new birds.

Practicing responsible ownership is important in keeping your pet bird healthy and happy. 

Knowing your bird’s routine and habits makes it easy to detect when there is something wrong and early recognition of symptoms helps provide the best care for your feathered friend.

Always remember: Prevention is the key!

Reprinted with permission from Family Flavours magazine

LONDON — Folk legend Neil Young has pulled out of this year's Glastonbury music festival, alleging it has fallen under "the corporate control" of its partner the BBC.

The 79-year-old musician, who was once one of the line-up of the supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, said he had been "looking forward to playing Glastonbury, one of my all-time favourite outdoor gigs".

But he added that the "BBC... wanted us to do a lot of things in a way we were not interested in" at the festival held in late June in southwest England.

"It seems Glastonbury is under corporate control," the US-Canadian singer and songwriter claimed in a statement on his website.

"We will not be playing Glastonbury on this tour, because it is a corporate turn-off, and not for me like it used to be."

Neither the festival organisers nor the BBC replied to AFP requests for comment on Young's withdrawal.

The full official line-up for the world-famous festival has not been announced yet.

But rumours had swirled that Young and his group The Chrome Hearts would be taking to the stage at the festival's home at Worthy Farm, in the county Somerset.

Young, who last played Glastonbury in 2009, did not give specific details of what the BBC's demands had been.

In 2009, fans accused the BBC of not broadcasting the whole of his set.

The broadcaster said at the time that it had spent "months" negotiating with Young's team what they could screen of his show.

"Neil's management agreed to let TV and radio broadcast five songs as they watched and listened to his performance. They believe in the live event and retaining its mystery and that of their artist," the BBC said then.

Tickets for this year's festival sold out within 35 minutes when they went on sale in November, with standard tickets priced at £373.50 ($471.50).

The row comes as Glastonbury reported profits more than doubled last year.

The festival brought in £5.9 million in pre-tax profit for the year to March 2024, up from £2.9 million the year before, according to accounts filed with Companies House.

This year's event will see raspy-voiced British rock star Rod Stewart play the coveted legends slot, more than two decades after he headlined the festival.

Glastonbury attracted more than 200,000 fans in 2024, hosting 3,000 performances across some 80 stages. Many of the gigs were broadcast by the BBC, which has partnered with the festival since 1997.

Glasto, as the festival is popularly known, was inspired by Britain's 1960s counterculture and hippie movements, with its first iteration as the Pilton Festival in 1970.

Glam rockers T. Rex were the first headliners. Since then, it has attracted cult status and big names, from David Bowie and Paul McCartney to Stormzy and Elton John, who played his final UK gig there in 2023.

SAO PAULO — "I'm Still Here", Brazil's hope for Oscars glory, focuses on the country's military dictatorship years (1965-1985), but is also very much "a film about the present," its lead actress Fernanda Torres told AFP.

The movie, which won for best screenplay at the 2024 Venice film festival, has proved popular with Brazilian audiences, and scores a lofty 90 per cent on the Rotten Tomatoes review aggregation website.

The Oscar nominations will be announced on January 17. "I'm Still Here" is on the shortlist to compete in the Best International Film category. It is also up for a Golden Globe award on Sunday.

The movie is based on the true story of Rubens Paiva, a leftist politician who disappeared under the dictatorship he opposed.

It looks at the fight his wife Eunice Paiva waged to find out what happened to him after he was abducted by regime agents in 1971.

Brazil's military dictatorship was responsible for the deaths and disappearances of more than 400 people, according to the National Truth Commission that investigated its rights violations.

With "I'm Still Here", director Walter Salles makes a return after a decade-long absence, and amid much anticipation after the critical success of his 1998 film "Central Station" and 2004's "The Motorcycle Diaries".

Torres's own mother, 95-year-old Oscar nominee Fernanda Montenegro, makes an appearance at the end of the film portraying an elderly Eunice Paiva.

Here is what Salles and Torres told AFP about the film in a joint interview as Hollywood's awards season kicks into high gear:

Past and present 

Salles: "When we started the project in 2016, we thought it would be an opportunity to look at the past to understand where we come from. But given the far right's rise in Brazil, from 2017, we realised the film also works to understand the present."

Torres: "It's a film about the present. We had a president [Jair Bolsonaro, between 2019 and 2022] who praised a regime torturer and believed the military saved Brazil from communism.... Whoever sees the film thinks, 'This is wrong, there was no reason to persecute this family'."

Reception abroad 

Salles: "In international festivals we got similar reactions as in Brazil, because we're not the only country seeing how fragile democracy is, or living or having lived through the trauma of having an extreme right wing.

"Sean Penn saw the film the day of Donald Trump's election, and when he presented it in Los Angeles, he said Eunice Paiva's smile was an example of resistance for what's coming in the United States."

Torres: "We live in a volatile world, where new technologies are changing social relationships. In moments like these, we see an uptick in a desire for an authoritarian government to bring back order.

"Through the perspective of this family, the film shows what that means in a country with a violent government that suspends civil rights."

Flashbacks -

Salles (on the 1970s setting): "These were memories of my teenage years. My girlfriend around age 13 or 14 was friends with one of Paiva's daughters so I spent a lot of time with them.

"In their house, it was another world, with free political discussion, where you could talk about censored books and records, where you dreamed of a more inclusive country."

"But I also discovered a violence I didn't know about. The day Rubens was abducted, never to be seen again, left a stark impression when everything changed for everybody who was in that microcosm. Whatever innocence we had we lost that day."

Oscars nomination 

Salles: "Awards work to bring more people in to see movies, so I'm happy in that sense. If it happens [that we get nominated], it would be great. If not, life goes on. My principle is that someone who is optimistic is badly informed."

LOS ANGELES, United States — The holiday weekend in North America saw two films battling for box-office supremacy and both emerging with a claim to first place.

Disney's animated drama "Mufasa: The Lion King" prevailed in the five days from Christmas Day through on Sunday with an estimated take of $63.8 million, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported on Sunday.

But Paramount's action comedy "Sonic the Hedgehog 3", which booked $59.9 million for that same five-day holiday period, came out on top for the traditional Friday-through-Sunday stretch, edging the Disney film by $38 million to $37.1 million.

Overall, the weekend generated "big, although not record-breaking box office" numbers, said analyst David A. Gross, adding that "the next seven days should be excellent".

New vampire pic "Nosferatu" from Focus Features also posted impressive numbers, with $40.3 million for the five-day period and $21.2 million for the three-day weekend.

Gross called that "an excellent opening for a new horror film" -- a remake of the 1922 silent classic inspired by the 1897 novel "Dracula" -- and noted that critics' reviews are outstanding.

The ensemble cast includes Bill Skarsgard, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe and Nicholas Hoult.

Universal's musical fantasy "Wicked", starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, earned $31.7 million for five days ($19.5 million for three) as the latest spin on the magical world of Oz slipped one spot to fourth place. Its global earnings now stand at $634 million.

And Disney's animated "Moana 2" had an estimated $28.3 million in ticket sales for five days ($18.2 million for three), slipping one spot but holding on to top-five status for the fifth straight week.

Meantime, Searchlight Pictures' "A Complete Unknown", with Timothee Chalamet portraying an enigmatic Bob Dylan during the dizzying years that propelled the singer-songwriter from anonymity to world fame, took in a solid $23.3 million for five days ($11.6 million for three). Dylan himself has described Chalamet as a "brilliant actor".

BUENOS AIRES — Five people have been indicted in Argentina over the death of British singer Liam Payne, who fell from a Buenos Aires hotel balcony in October after consuming alcohol and drugs, prosecutors said on Monday.

Three of the five were charged with manslaughter and the other two with supplying the former One Direction pop star with illegal drugs, prosecutors said, identifying the suspects only by their initials.

The latter two have been ordered to be taken into custody but the others have been allowed to remain free, the prosecutors said.

Payne died on October 16 after falling from the balcony of his third-floor room at the Casa Sur Hotel in the Argentine capital.

His death at age 31 prompted a global outpouring of grief from family, former bandmates, fans and others, with thousands gathering in cities around the world to offer their condolences.

The unnamed people charged with manslaughter are a representative of the singer who was traveling with him, a woman managing the hotel where Payne died, and the head of its reception desk, the prosecutors said.

Those charged with supplying Payne with drugs are a hotel employee and a waiter that Payne met elsewhere in the city, they added.

Prosecutors said last month that Payne had consumed cocaine, alcohol and a prescription antidepressant before falling to his death.

The pop star had spoken publicly about struggling with substance abuse and coping with fame from an early age.

In November, Argentine officials had unveiled initial charges against three people in the death of Payne. Monday's decision means that five will now go on trial.

One of the highest-grossing live acts in the world in the 2010s, One Direction went on indefinite hiatus in 2016.

Payne went on to enjoy a degree of solo success but his career had languished recently.

Payne's death prompted a debate about whether the music industry has a duty of care for the mental health of stars who find fame at a young age.

The singer from Wolverhampton in central England first auditioned for the hugely popular television talent show "The X Factor" at the age of 14 but was unsuccessful.

Two years later he hit gold on the programme, which teamed him up with Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik to form One Direction.

Over the next six years, the group enjoyed global fame and legions of screaming fans, selling more than 70 million copies of their five albums. They went on four world tours and won nearly 200 awards.

Payne is survived by a seven-year-old boy, Bear, with Girls Aloud star Cheryl Tweedy.

Dr Said Qabbaah,
Medical Writer & Public Health Expert

As the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, many people are reminded that “cold and flu season” has arrived.

While it’s impossible to completely avoid exposure to these seasonal viruses, there are several steps you can take to boost your immune system, reduce the risk of infection and maintain your overall health throughout the winter months.

The common cold and the flu are both respiratory illnesses caused by different viruses. The cold is typically caused by a virus called rhinovirus while the flu is caused by the influenza virus.

Though both can produce similar symptoms — such as sore throat, congestion, cough and fatigue — the flu is generally more severe, often leading to fever, body aches and long-lasting symptoms and can even lead to complications like pneumonia.

Cold and flu viruses spread primarily through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. The viruses can also survive on surfaces, which means that it’s still possible to get sick by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your face, especially your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Because these viruses thrive in cooler weather, and as people tend to spend more time together indoors, cases typically spike during autumn and winter.

Therefore, understanding how these viruses spread is the first step in preventing them.

The immune system is your body’s defense mechanism against infections, including colds and the flu. For this reason, keeping your immune system strong is key to staying healthy during the cold and flu season.

Here’s how

1. Eating a balanced diet: A nutrient-rich diet is essential for a strong immune system. Focus on foods that are high in vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants.

Vitamin C, found in citrus fruits and leafy greens, is particularly beneficial for immune health.

Vitamin D, which we get from sunlight as well as foods such as fish, eggs and fortified dairy products, plays a crucial role in supporting immune function.

Zinc, found in foods like red meat, poultry, nuts and seafood (especially oysters), also helps boost the immune system.

2. Staying hydrated: Hydration is crucial for overall health, including immune function.

Water helps flush out toxins from the body and ensures that your cells can function properly. During the winter, people often drink less water because they don’t feel as thirsty.

However, dry indoor air and heating systems can easily dehydrate the body, so it,s important to make an effort to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and consuming hydrating foods like fruits, vegetables and soups.

3. Getting adequate sleep: Sleep is when your body repairs itself, and it plays a crucial role in immune health.

Research shows that people who don’t get enough sleep are more susceptible to infections like the cold and flu. Aim for 7- 9 hours of sleep every night to help your body defend itself effectively against illnesses.

4. Frequently washing hands: Handwashing is the most important preventive measure you can take against the spread of cold and flu viruses.

Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds helps remove germs you may have picked up from surfaces.

If soap and water are not available, using an alcoholbased hand sanitiser can also help kill germs.

5. Avoiding face-touching: Viruses often enter the body through the mucous membranes—the moist, inner lining of some organs and body cavities such as the nose, mouth and eyes.

Many people touch their faces frequently without realising it, so try to be mindful and reduce this habit to lower the risk of infection.

6. Covering the mouth and nose: When coughing or sneezing, it,s best to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow, rather than your hands.

This prevents respiratory droplets from becoming airborne and infecting others. Also, make sure to dispose of tissues immediately and wash your hands as soon as you get the opportunity to do so.

7. Staying physically active: Regular exercise can help boost your immune system by promoting good circulation, which allows immune cells to move through the body more efficiently.

Even moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, can reduce your chances of getting sick during the cold and flu season. Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. However, it’s important to listen to your body — if you’re already sick, it’s best to rest and recover instead

8. Managing stress: Chronic stress can weaken your immune system, making you more vulnerable to infections. This is because during stressful periods, the body releases certain stress hormones, such as cortisol, which can suppress immune function.

Finding healthy ways to manage stress is crucial for reducing the risk of illness and maintaining overall health.

9. Mindfulness and meditation: Practising mindfulness or meditation can significantly help reduce stress levels and improve emotional wellbeing. Taking just a few minutes each day to focus on your breathing or engage in calming activities can make a big difference.

10. Staying connected: Social isolation can contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety, which in turn can negatively impact your immune health.

Staying connected with friends and family, even virtually, can help alleviate negative feelings and boost immune function during the winter months.

11. Getting vaccinated: The flu vaccine (also known as the ‘flu shot’) is one of the most effective ways to prevent the flu and its complications.

While it doesn’t provide 100% protection, the flu vaccine significantly reduces the risk of severe illness and hospitalisation.

It,s recommended that everyone over six months of age get vaccinated, especially those in high-risk groups, such as pregnant women, the elderly and people with underlying health conditions.

12. Maintaining a healthy environment: Your surroundings play a role in maintaining your health during cold and flu season. Taking a few extra steps to create a healthier environment can reduce your risk of getting sick.

13. Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces: Cold and flu viruses can survive on surfaces for hours, so regularly cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, and phones can help reduce the spread of germs.

14. Using a humidifier: Cold, dry air can dry out the mucous membranes in your nose and throat, making you more susceptible to infections. Using a humidifier can add moisture to the air and help protect your respiratory system.

Just make sure to clean the humidifier regularly to prevent growth of harmful mould and bacteria.

15. Ventilating your home: During winter, people tend to keep their windows closed to stay warm, but this can trap viruses indoors. Whenever possible, open windows or use fans to improve air circulation in your home, reducing the concentration of airborne viruses and the chances of getting sick

16. Knowing when to stay home: If you do catch a cold or the flu, it’s important to stay home and rest. Not only will this help your body recover more quickly, but it will also prevent spreading the virus to others.

Most people recover from colds within a week, but flu symptoms can last longer. While various treatments can help alleviate the symptoms of the common cold and flu, there is no cure for these illnesses.

Informed choices 

Cold and flu season doesn’t have to mean months of illness and feeling miserable. By adopting healthy habits and staying informed, you can reduce your risk of getting sick and make the most out of this special time.

Simple everyday choices can make a big difference in protecting yourself and your loved ones from seasonal illnesses, allowing you to enjoy a healthy, cozy winter.

Reprinted with permission from Family Flavours magazine

LOS ANGELES, United States — No elves, no dwarves, and not a hobbit in sight: "The Lord of the Rings" returns to the big screen this month with a new Japanese anime-style movie about the warring men of J.R.R. Tolkien's fictional universe.

Out in theatres December 13, "The War of the Rohirrim" is a prequel that takes place nearly two centuries before Peter Jackson's original Oscar-winning films, which were themselves adapted from Tolkien's fantasy books.

But unlike the first "Lord of the Rings" movies -- or the disappointing "The Hobbit" films that followed -- there are no magical rings or all-powerful Dark Lords this time around.

"You look at the original trilogy, you're talking hobbits and elves and dwarves and monsters," director Kenji Kamiyama told a recent press conference.

The new film is instead "rooted in human drama and emotion... greed and power," said the Japanese artist, who has previously worked on animated versions of "Star Wars" and "Blade Runner".

Hollywood studio Warner Bros. announced in 2021 that the next "Rings" film would be an anime -- a distinctively Japanese visual style and genre that has exploded in popularity in the West in recent years.

Filmmakers scoured the vast, invented histories that Tolkien wrote as footnotes for his beloved novels.

They soon homed in on a brief description of a civil war between a king and a rebellious nobleman.

"It wasn't a case of, 'we've got the story, what form of animation are we going to tell it in?'" said producer Philippa Boyens, who also co-wrote the "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" trilogies

"It was actually the opposite way around. There was something about this particular story... that felt intrinsically right for that great tradition of Japanese filmmaking that is anime."

That tradition means themes such as honor, loyalty, hubris -- and a fearsome female protagonist, in the ilk of Studio Ghibli's famous "Princess Mononoke".

'Boss girl' 

"The War of the Rohirrim" is set in Rohan, the kingdom of horse-riding, Viking-looking warriors that featured prominently in Jackson's 2002 movie "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers".

The animated movie revisits key locations from that film -- such as the epic battleground fortress of Helm's Deep -- and is narrated by Miranda Otto, who played a heroic female Rohan warrior, Eowyn, in Jackson's trilogy.

The plot begins with ambitious Lord Freca plotting to marry his son to Hera, the daughter of the king of Rohan.

When the offer is contemptuously spurned by the proud monarch, Freca mounts a mutinous challenge to the throne but is fatally struck down.

Sent into exile, his son cultivates a massive rebellion that will unleash catastrophic war on the entire kingdom.

Although she is central to the conflict, Tolkien did not even bother to give the princess a name in his lengthy historical footnotes.

But Boyens was fascinated by the idea of expanding this mysterious character, who witnesses and links the new film's various heroes, villains and battles.

"We didn't want her to be some warrior princess, superhero, boss girl," said Boyens.

"We wanted her to feel real. She's full of curiosity, she makes mistakes."

Jackson himself served as an executive producer for the new film, but "stepped back" from day-to-day involvement, encouraging Kamiyama to put his own anime stamp on the film, according to Boyens.

"Elements of the live-action [films] creep into the world," she said. But they "crept in very beautifully around the edge."

"Storywise, we obviously wanted to stay true to the Tolkien universe... but at the same time staying true to what we do best -- which was just to make anime," agreed Kamiyama.

LONDON — With its twinkling Christmas fairy lights and nostalgic array of vintage toys, the window of one London "shop" never fails to enchant passers-by.

A Punch and Judy puppet, old board games, model trains and planes, papier mache masks adorn the window of Number 43, Camden Passage in the north London neighbourhood of Islington.

Would-be shoppers intrigued by the quirky collection immediately start searching for the entrance.

But Number 43 is not a shop and nothing here is for sale -- to the huge disappointment of the excited children who press their noses up against the glass.

The adjacent blue door with its festive wreath remains firmly closed and no one answers the bell.

Sandwiched between a Chipotle Mexican grill and a jewellery store, neighbouring shopkeepers say people are forever asking where the entrance is.

In fact, the property is the former home of Bob Borzello, 88, and the window display is the result of a lifetime obsession with collecting, or "accumulating", as he prefers to call it.

"Everyone comes and says, 'Oh look at that, I wonder when they're open'," his daughter-in-law Belle Benson, 51, who recently took over the displays with her daughter, told AFP.

"People just like it, especially little children," added Borzello.

The property was once home to a poster shop where Borzello and his former wife sold pin-ups of iconic figures like Che Guevara.

Originally from Chicago, the former businessman and tabloid newspaper editor came to London in the 1960s to study at the London School of Economics.

After a short spell back in Chicago he and his now ex-wife returned to settle in London in 1967 and ran the poster shop and a print business from the property.

Accumulator

All along, however, Borzello was "accumulating" his vast collection of items picked up in antique shops and junk sales.

"The fun of it is looking around and finding it... a lot of it is just things I find interesting," he said.

A decade ago Borzello began displaying the items, and the window in the property he still owns is now something of an Islington institution.

The toy collection began with airplane models which are soon to be the subject of another themed display.

As well as toys, Borzello has accumulated lots of souvenir items from the late Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.

Other collections include clocks, badges, wedding cake toppers, shop mannequins, his children's old school reports, even his old Covid tests, which he has lined up next to his phone.

The fireplace in Borzello's nearby flat is surrounded by all things green, from glass vases and ornaments to ladies' shoes, hats and necklaces.

He says he thinks he picked up the "collecting gene" from his Italian-American mother and that his children are also collectors in different ways.

"My daughter, she's a 'mudlark' and she's got her whole house filled with things that she's got from the [River] Thames," he said, referring to people who search for treasures on the shores of rivers.

His "minimalist" son, meanwhile, has "gone the other way", although he "picks up everybody else's dying plants and nurses them back to life", making him a collector of a different kind, he said.

Despite his lifelong dislike of throwing anything away, Borzello laughed when Belle revealed she recently found him "slaving over the shredder".

He admitted he was shredding his old love letters so his grandchildren can't read them after his death, although he has insisted on keeping the shreds.

"I just have a hard time getting rid of things," he said.